Crafting my Life
These posts are from my Crafting my Life series, which discusses how I'm trying to dream big, find balance and re-create my life.
I’m Amber, and I’m a Dreamer
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! September’s theme is relationships. Because having the right people in our corner can make all the difference. This week I’m talking about sharing your dreams with the people you meet. I’ve mentioned before that when I decided to craft a new path that I felt at a bit [...]
The Creativity Habit
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! August’s theme is creativity. Whether your dreams involve painting or writing or growing food or taking lots of naps, tapping into your creativity is an important part of changing your life. In the past few weeks I talked about practicing creativity, making art in your everyday life and [...]
Creativity and Silliness
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! August’s theme is creativity. Whether your dreams involve painting or writing or growing food or taking lots of naps, tapping into your creativity is an important part of changing your life. In the past 2 weeks I talked about practicing creativity and making art in your everyday life. [...]
Making Art
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! August’s theme is creativity. Whether your dreams involve painting or writing or growing food or taking lots of naps, tapping into your creativity is an important part of changing your life. Last week I talked about practicing creativity by taking intentional creativity breaks. This week I’m going to [...]
Practicing Creativity
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! August’s theme is creativity. Whether your dreams involve painting or writing or growing food or taking lots of naps, tapping into your creativity is an important part of changing your life. We all have amazing creative potential. It sounds schmaltzy, but it’s true. People are incredibly good problem-solvers, [...]
Life Crafting Role Models: Kirsten
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! July’s theme is looking to our role models. Because other people have walked this path before, and we can learn from them. In previous weeks I talked to Andrea Gregg-Aylott, Sue Sinclair and Christine Budai. This week I’m talking to my very good friend Kirsten Zerbinis, all-around cool [...]
Life Crafting Role Models: Christine
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! July’s theme is looking to our role models. Because other people have walked this path before, and we can learn from them. In previous weeks I talked to Andrea Gregg-Aylott, Sue Sinclair and Jeanette Miller. This week I’m talking to Christine Budai, co-owner of Saplings, which is an [...]
Life Crafting Role Models: Jeanette
Hey! I am featured today on BlogHer’s $100 Question! So head on over for a chance to win $100. It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! July’s theme is looking to our role models. Because other people have walked this path before, and we can learn from them. In the past two weeks I talked [...]
Life Crafting Role Models: Sue
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! July’s theme is looking to our role models. Because other people have walked this path before, and we can learn from them. Last week I talked to Andrea Gregg-Aylott. This week I’m talking to Sue Sinclair, Founder and Chief Executive Mom of Raspberry Kids, an online children’s boutique. [...]
Life Crafting Role Models: Andrea
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! July’s theme is looking to our role models. Because other people have walked this path before, and we can learn from them. Since today is Canada Day, I am talking to Andrea Gregg-Aylott, a local mom who was on the popular Canadian TV Show, Dragons’ Den. On the [...]
Embracing Simplicity
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! June’s theme is money. Which is hard, but important. In the past few weeks I explored my money issues, the ins and outs of sharing finances and dealing with an unpredictable cash flow. Today I’m talking about embracing simplicity. While I was on vacation I went to the [...]
Dealing with Unpredictable Cash Flow
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! June’s theme is money. Which is hard, but important. In the past couple of weeks I explored my money issues and the ins and outs of sharing finances. This week I’m talking about handling an unpredictable cash flow. One of the biggest perks of working at a traditional [...]
Yours, Mine and Ours
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! June’s theme is money. Which is hard, but important. Last week I explored my money issues. This week I explore the ins and outs of sharing finances with my husband Jon. Money can be one of the hardest parts of marriage, after all. Jon and I have pretty [...]
My Money, Myself
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! June’s theme is money. Which is hard, but important. This week, I explore my money issues. How can this fail to be riveting? I am all about security. I like to know what’s going to happen next. I have been in the same relationship since I was 15 [...]
Trying is Awesome
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! May’s theme is recognizing our innate awesomeness. Because we are awesome. In the past few weeks I wrote about how moms are awesome, how making stuff is awesome and how having no plan is awesome. This week, I’m talking about how trying is awesome – as in trying [...]
Having no Plan is Awesome
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! May’s theme is recognizing our innate awesomeness. Because we are awesome. In the past two weeks I wrote about how moms are awesome, and how making stuff is awesome. This week, I try to convince myself that having no plan is awesome. Let’s see how well I do. [...]
Making Stuff is Awesome
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! May’s theme is recognizing our innate awesomeness. Because we are awesome. Last week I wrote about how moms are awesome, and this week I’m talking about how making stuff is awesome. Read on, because I promise it will be, um, awesome. When I need grounding, I make something [...]
Moms are Awesome
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! May’s theme is recognizing our innate awesomeness. Because we are awesome.This week I’m talking about how awesome moms are. Mother’s Day is this weekend. This is, of course, the day that we traditionally give our moms cards and flowers and breakfast in bed. It’s a day filled with [...]
A Van Down By the River
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! April’s theme is dealing with negativity. When you decide to go in a new direction you can encounter a lot of it, from yourself and others. In the past few weeks I spoke about that pesky voice inside my head and how I’m learning to understand it. I [...]
Casting My Fears Out to Sea
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! April’s theme is dealing with negativity. When you decide to go in a new direction you can encounter a lot of it, from yourself and others. In the past few weeks I spoke about that pesky voice inside my head and how I’m learning to understand it. I [...]
Who do I Think I am, Anyway?
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! April’s theme is dealing with negativity. When you decide to go in a new direction you can encounter a lot of it, from yourself and others. In the past two weeks I spoke about that pesky voice inside my head and how I’m learning to understand it. This [...]
You Really Love Me?
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! April’s theme is dealing with negativity. When you decide to go in a new direction you can encounter a lot of it, from yourself and others. Last week I spoke about that pesky voice inside my head. This week I’m going to expand on that a little and [...]
My Own Worst Critic
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! April’s theme is dealing with negativity. When you decide to leave your comfortable life behind and go in a new direction you can encounter a lot of it, from yourself and others. This week I’m talking about the oh-so-unhelpful critical voice that lives in my head. When I [...]
Is Blogging the Path to Dreams?
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! March’s theme is blogging. In previous weeks I talked about blogging your dreams, about how bloggers are real people, and about the ins and outs of building community through blogging. This week I am talking about what blogging can and can’t do for you. I also have links [...]
If You Blog It, Will They Come?
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! March’s theme is blogging. In previous weeks I talked about blogging your dreams and about how bloggers are real people. This week I’m talking about the ins and outs of building community through blogging. As I’ve mentioned before, I started blogging in 2003 but sort of kept to [...]
Bloggers are Real People
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! March’s theme is blogging. Last week I talked about blogging your dreams. This week, I’m talking about the literal community of bloggers. I like to wax poetic about online community and how supportive it can be, and it is. But as much as we talk about the virtual [...]
Blogging Your Dreams
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! March’s theme is blogging. This week, I’m talking about blogging your dreams, and why that can be a really great thing. My husband Jon started this blog in May, 2003, which means that it’s pretty old as far as blogs go. I have posted regularly here for over [...]
When the Time Isn’t Right
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! February’s theme is time management. In the past few weeks I wrote about the nature of having no time, how I’m learning to seize the moment and how it’s hard to find time with small children underfoot. This week, I’m talking about recognizing when the time isn’t right. [...]
Toddlers Don’t Do Time Management
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! February’s theme is time management. In the past two weeks I talked about the nature of having no time and how I’m learning to seize the moment. This week, I’m talking about working with small kids underfoot. I have tried to do the work-at-home mom thing once before. [...]
There’s No Time Like the Present
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! February’s theme is time management. Last week I talked about the nature of having no time. This week, I’m talking about seizing the moment and doing what needs to get done. I ended last week’s post by saying that the only time that you really have is right [...]
On Having No Time
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! Today I am lamenting the fact that I have no time. Join me, won’t you? Back in late August I talked about our culture’s Cult of Busy-ness. Money and status come with Important Responsibilities, and Important Responsibilities mean you’re busy. Having Too Much To Do is almost like [...]
Re-evaluating Your Dreams and Desires
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! This month I’m writing about deciding what you want and going after it. Over the last few weeks I wrote about figuring out what you want, the practicalities of goal-setting and the value of asking for what you want. Today I’ll talk a little bit about re-evaluating your [...]
On Asking for What You Want
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! This month I’m writing about deciding what you want and going after it. Over the last two weeks I wrote about figuring out what you want and the practicalities of goal-setting. Today I’ll talk about asking for what you want. But first, a little bit of music to [...]
The Practicalities of Goal-Setting
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! This month I’m writing about deciding what you want and going after it. Last week I wrote about figuring out what you want. Today I’ll talk about setting goals based on what you’re going after. Once you have some idea of what you want, the logical next step [...]
Figuring Out What You Want
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! This month I’m writing about deciding what you want and going after it. Today, I’ll begin at the beginning. The question of what you want seems easy enough. Any child can answer it, right? My 4-year-old certainly can. At any given moment she can tell you definitively what [...]
The Next 10 Years
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! Today is the last day of 2009, which means that tomorrow will be a whole new decade. Today I am talking about what the last 10 years brought me, and looking forward to where I’d like to be when 2020 dawns. (I know that technically decades start on [...]
Crafting my Christmas
It’s Thursday, and I’m Crafting my Life! Or, more specifically, I’m Crafting my Christmas, since today is Christmas Eve and all. So grab some hot chocolate, turn up the Bing Crosby, and join me. I am not very good at Christmas, I’ll put it right out there. I make far too many promises, to myself [...]
Don’t Rain on my Parade
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! Today I am talking about warnings, and their value or lack thereof. I’m also talking about show tunes, because who doesn’t love a good show tune? Last week I sat and watched Glee, because oh man do I ever love that show. I haven’t missed an episode yet, [...]
Work at Home Mom
It’s Thursday, and I’m Crafting my Life! Today I’m talking about making the decision to work from home while also taking care of my children. This week I gave up my 16-month-old’s toddler daycare spots. We put him on the daycare wait lists early, the first one when I was pregnant and then a couple [...]
Stories We Tell Ourselves
It’s Thursday, and I’m Crafting my Life! This week I’m talking about the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. Maybe it’s something we heard when we were kids and took to heart. Or maybe it’s something that used to be true and isn’t anymore. Either way, sometimes these stories are just not helpful [...]
November Blahs
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life. Or, at least, I would be if I could motivate myself to do anything. I have the worst case of the November blahs right now. November is a very dark, grey, rainy month here in Vancouver, and it wears on you after a while. I’ll take a little [...]
Self-Promotion Is No Fun
It’s Thursday, and so I’m Crafting my Life! Today I am talking about self-promotion. Which, honestly? Is not my idea of a good time. But it’s really important to understand it all the same. I am a woman. I wasn’t exactly encouraged to get out there and toot my own horn. It’s a generalization, I [...]
Making Space for New Things
It’s Thursday and so I’m Crafting my Life! Today I am going to talk about the importance of making space in your life for new things. I started my journey in re-creating my life when I was laid off. I think that it’s the same for many people – something big happens, and it acts [...]
Crafting my Life Manifesto
It’s Thursday, and so I’m Crafting my Life! Last week I wrote about tribes, and how I’ve found mine. This week I am going to make a statement about what I stand for, and what I hope that my tribe stands for. Please understand, I am not looking to exclude anyone. I am sharing my [...]
Finding My Tribe
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! Today I am talking about something that is near and dear to my heart – finding my tribe. I am a pleaser by nature. I think that many women are. I want people to like me, and sometimes I refrain from voicing my honest opinion for fear of [...]
Money and Dreams
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! Today I’m talking about the financial planning and pitfalls that go into pursuing your dream. I’ll admit right up front that I feel more than a little uncomfortable talking about money. It can be a touchy subject, after all. I’m concerned that I will somehow manage to offend [...]
Simplicity and Climate Change
It’s Thursday so I’m Crafting my Life! It also happens to be Blog Action Day ’09, and the topic is ‘Climate Change’, an issue near and dear to my heart. I think that crafting a life for myself and making environmentally sustainable choices are highly interrelated, and today I will explain exactly how. We are [...]
Time Management
A couple of weeks ago the fabulous Francesca requested that I write about managing my blogging and social networking. Here is what she said: May I request a post on how exactly one fits twitter, blogging, etc in one’s day? (well, we know you have Bob to help you out, but still…) As you know, [...]
The Pitfalls of Behaving
It’s Thursday and I’m Crafting my Life! Today I am sharing an essay I wrote for a contest this summer. It did not win, or even place, which is understandable because I think it wasn’t really the right fit. However, it’s taken me many weeks to even be able to open it again. I’m sharing [...]
Canadian Parental Leave and Multiples
It’s Thursday, so I’m Crafting my Life! Today I’m talking about possibly the biggest challenges any parent faces when trying to find balance, which occurs with multiple births. I have the utmost respect for parents of twins or more. I think that anyone who’s cared for one baby can appreciate how much work must go [...]
Crafting my Life
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time you know that I spent the better part of a year writing a series on maternity leave called ‘Mat Leave Monday‘. And then the series ended, because my maternity leave ended. However, I didn’t go back to work thanks to my lay-off in April. This [...]
Making Things
I read a post recently about ‘walking the grid‘. Walking the grid means keeping things simple and adopting a routine as a way of centering yourself. When you’ve failed or experienced a setback or are just plain out of whack you walk the grid. It takes you back to square one and helps you to [...]
Mondo Beyondo
What do you want? What do you really, really want? If you could have any life you chose, and live out your biggest dreams, what would it look like? I haven’t asked myself these questions in 20 years. When I was 13 and full of adolescent angst I spent a lot of time contemplating my [...]
Busy-ness
In our culture keeping busy is almost like our religion. You can speak a different language, go to a different church and vote for a different candidate and that’s OK. But you’d better not have too much free time on your hands, no sirree. That would mean you lack status and importance, because we all [...]
Stay at Home Mom
Six months ago exactly I wrote about what it was like to be at home on maternity leave. At the time I expected that, by now, Jacob would be starting daycare and I would be preparing for my return to work. It hasn’t worked out that way. I am now officially unemployed. And I am [...]
Going Part-Time
I returned to work reluctantly after my first maternity leave. My whole world had changed since I’d last set foot in the office a full year before. I had become a mom and I wasn’t even really the same person anymore. I was lucky that my former employer offered family-friendly policies such as flex time [...]
